Step 1: To generate a few ideas for your paper, ask questions about the text: -What caused Macbeth to fall: Fate or Free Will?
-Why does Macbeth (or Lady Macbeth) change so dramatically over the course of the play?
- What ultimately leads to Macbeth's downfall?
-What flaws, resulted from his change, in Macbeth lead to his downfall?
Step 2: Determine themes or important ideas that are raised by the text. -ambition
-Blind ambition can lead to one’s downfall
-Power corrupts
Step 3: State how the theme or idea is evident in the text (state your thesis).
My Answer: Himself: his pride, ambition, vanity, greed, corruption etc. The witches.
He's vain for believing the witches' second prophecy and because he believed it, he became full of pride. He was ambitious and that's why he killed Duncan. He became greedy and corrupt and that's why he started killing off Banquo and Macduff's family.
Although his vanity and greed got Macbeth to the top position as king, these flaws are the factors that eventually lead to his downfall.
Macbeth's downfall was ultimately caused by himself; although it was Macbeth's ambition, greed, and vanity that got him to his position as king, it was also these same factors that ruin him at the end.
1. question you would like to focus on: What internal factors contribute to Macbeth's downfall?
2. a thesis (answer to the question): Macbeth's downfall was ultimately caused by himself; although it was Macbeth's ambition, greed, and vanity that got him to his position as king, it was also these same factors that ruin him at the end.
3. at least three major points that support your thesis: His pride, ambition, vanity, greed etc.
He was ambitious and that's why he killed Duncan. He became greedy and corrupt and that's why he started killing off Banquo and Macduff's family. He's vain for believing the witches' second prophecy and because he believed it, he became full of pride. His overconfidence was what led to his final end.
4. at least one piece of textual evidence per major point:
(aside) The prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;Let not light see my black and deep desires.The eye wink at the hand, yet let that beWhich the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (1.4.50-55) These lines show how Macbeth is an ambitious man: he wants to be king. From this scene, Macbeth is considering murder to get his way.
"Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown
And put a barren scepter in my grip,Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand,No son of mine succeeding. If ’t be so,For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind;For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered;Put rancors in the vessel of my peaceOnly for them; and mine eternal jewelGiven to the common enemy of man,To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!Rather than so, come fate into the list,And champion me to th' utterance. Who’s there?" (3.1.63-74)
These lines show how Macbeth is slowly becoming more greedy; now, he is not satisfied with just being king. These lines show how he wants to make sure that Banquo's descendants don't get the position as kings.
"Thou losest labor.
As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air
With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed.
Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests;
I bear a charmed life, which must not yield
to one of woman born." (5.8)
These lines show how overconfident Macbeth has become.
-What caused Macbeth to fall: Fate or Free Will?
-Why does Macbeth (or Lady Macbeth) change so dramatically over the course of the play?
- What ultimately leads to Macbeth's downfall?
-What flaws, resulted from his change, in Macbeth lead to his downfall?
Step 2: Determine themes or important ideas that are raised by the text.
-ambition
-Blind ambition can lead to one’s downfall
-Power corrupts
Step 3: State how the theme or idea is evident in the text (state your thesis).
My Answer: Himself: his pride, ambition, vanity, greed, corruption etc. The witches.
He's vain for believing the witches' second prophecy and because he believed it, he became full of pride. He was ambitious and that's why he killed Duncan. He became greedy and corrupt and that's why he started killing off Banquo and Macduff's family.
Although his vanity and greed got Macbeth to the top position as king, these flaws are the factors that eventually lead to his downfall.
Macbeth's downfall was ultimately caused by himself; although it was Macbeth's ambition, greed, and vanity that got him to his position as king, it was also these same factors that ruin him at the end.
1. question you would like to focus on: What internal factors contribute to Macbeth's downfall?
2. a thesis (answer to the question): Macbeth's downfall was ultimately caused by himself; although it was Macbeth's ambition, greed, and vanity that got him to his position as king, it was also these same factors that ruin him at the end.
3. at least three major points that support your thesis: His pride, ambition, vanity, greed etc.
He was ambitious and that's why he killed Duncan. He became greedy and corrupt and that's why he started killing off Banquo and Macduff's family. He's vain for believing the witches' second prophecy and because he believed it, he became full of pride. His overconfidence was what led to his final end.
4. at least one piece of textual evidence per major point:
- (aside) The prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;Let not light see my black and deep desires.The eye wink at the hand, yet let that beWhich the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (1.4.50-55)These lines show how Macbeth is an ambitious man: he wants to be king. From this scene, Macbeth is considering murder to get his way.
And put a barren scepter in my grip,Thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand,No son of mine succeeding. If ’t be so,For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind;For them the gracious Duncan have I murdered;Put rancors in the vessel of my peaceOnly for them; and mine eternal jewelGiven to the common enemy of man,To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!Rather than so, come fate into the list,And champion me to th' utterance. Who’s there?" (3.1.63-74)
These lines show how Macbeth is slowly becoming more greedy; now, he is not satisfied with just being king. These lines show how he wants to make sure that Banquo's descendants don't get the position as kings.
- "Thou losest labor.
As easy mayst thou the intrenchant airWith thy keen sword impress as make me bleed.
Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests;
I bear a charmed life, which must not yield
to one of woman born." (5.8)
These lines show how overconfident Macbeth has become.